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10-12-2017 12:00 AM

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This paper represents a critical analysis of the representation of problems and assumptions for the solutions in the national ICT policy of Malawi. The study employed Carol Bacchi’s What’s the Problem Presented (WPR) to scrutinise national ICT policy and related documents. The results showed that the national ICT policy main objective was to support addressing threat of worse socio-economic status of country and poverty alleviation. The policy solutions were framed around ICT infrastructure, human capital, industries development and governance. The assumptions were that investing in these areas could support the integration of ICTs in the priority sectors of the economy (mining, tourism and agriculture) and achieve social-economic development. The policy solutions focused more on the supply of technology while downplaying cultural, political and contextual issues. The study signals the importance of articulating real needs of policy beneficiaries during policy formulation.

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Dec 10th, 12:00 AM

Problematising Development and Poverty in the ICT policy of Malawi

This paper represents a critical analysis of the representation of problems and assumptions for the solutions in the national ICT policy of Malawi. The study employed Carol Bacchi’s What’s the Problem Presented (WPR) to scrutinise national ICT policy and related documents. The results showed that the national ICT policy main objective was to support addressing threat of worse socio-economic status of country and poverty alleviation. The policy solutions were framed around ICT infrastructure, human capital, industries development and governance. The assumptions were that investing in these areas could support the integration of ICTs in the priority sectors of the economy (mining, tourism and agriculture) and achieve social-economic development. The policy solutions focused more on the supply of technology while downplaying cultural, political and contextual issues. The study signals the importance of articulating real needs of policy beneficiaries during policy formulation.